Galax is a town of about 7,000 people on the southern border of Virginia on the edge of the Appalachian mountains. For music lovers, its name conjures up one thing - the Old Fiddler’s Convention a premiere contest and roots music gathering that’s taken place in Galax since 1935. For married musicians Doug and Telisha Williams, who perform under the name The Wild Ponies, the Galax area is also their old home place. It’s where they grew up, dated as high school sweethearts and launched their music career.

The office of the Music Health Alliance in a Green Hills office building is bustling with activity on a typical weekday afternoon. The non-profit helps self-employed music professionals - about three fourths of the industry they say - negotiate the complexities of the health care system and take advantage of laws and programs that often go unnoticed or unexploited in times of health crises.

When Rhiannon Giddens won the Steve Martin Banjo Prize in 2016, it was a validation of the North Carolina musician’s contributions to old-time, string band and bluegrass music. But her MacArthur Fellowship, announced last week, propels Giddens into a creative and intellectual future that promises to shape society itself.

Murfreesboro, TN – Intellectually gifted students often feel unchallenged in the classroom. But gifted kids in Tennessee will soon have more help in assuring they reach their full potential. Shawn Jacobs reports.

Murfreesboro, TN – Since 1969, WMOT has filled the airwaves of Middle Tennessee -- even before there was a department of Mass Communications. From the upper floors of the Dramatic Arts building to the Learning Resources Center, the station has seen many changes in operating styles, campus administrations, and the ever-changing names on the student employee rosters.

Murfreesboro, TN – New York pianist Bill Charlap's new CD rethinks the Broadway tunes of classical composer/conductor Leonard Bernstein. Charlap's piano lines move easily the bounce of "Cool," the Cuban cadences of "America," and the brush-stroked "Glitter to Be Gay." His solo on "Somewhere" links Bernstein's intersection of the classics, American popular song, and jazz.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (OSBORNE) -- It’s been something of a roller-coaster ride for Tennessee’s school children, parents, teachers and administrators in recent weeks, with a string of media reports on education successes and failures.

On the plus side, the State Department of Education recently revealed that the number of Tennessee children graduating from high school had reached an all-time high.

State Education Commissioner Candice McQueen was also happy to report another milestone for the state’s combined ACT scores.

Have an old vehicle sitting in your driveway? Donate your used vehicle to WMOT, we will do all the work, all you have to do is sit back and relax! Our qualified donation support team is ready to work out all the details of your donation. We will even haul your car away for free! Call 888-WMOT-CAR. 888-966-8227. You can also donate online .